Working Out The Meanings Of Coats of Arms

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Interpreting The Symbols On Coats Of Arms

Coats of arms have been used to define and describe families
and nations from ancient times. Now many people look back on
their coats of arms to trace their genealogy. A close look
at the symbols on coats of arms reveals the meanings that
they signify. Here are some of the more common elements in
many coats of arms.

Colors. There are a few colors used in coats of arms as
background or as a part of a motif of two or more colors.
Gold indicates generosity and silver or white symbolizes
peace and sincerity. Blue is the color of truth and loyalty
and green indicates hope and joy. There are warrior colors
as well. Red indicates military strength (warrior) and
maroon means patient yet victorious in battle. Purple is
the color of royal majesty and justice, and orange
represents worthy ambition.

Animals figure on coats of arms quite frequently. The lion
is the most common. The lion rampant standing on its hind
legs represents dauntless courage. The heraldic lion
indicates bravery, strength, and valor. The lion features
more often in royal crests and many national crests than any
other animal.

Eagle is another animal that finds a frequent place in coats
of arms. It represents noble nature, strength and bravery,
an eagle with outspread wings depicts protection and the one
with two heads shows the joining of two forces. The Roman
Empire chose eagle as its insignia and in the contemporary
times the United States adorns it.

Besides the aforementioned two animals there are others like
boar and bull for bravery and valor, cat for liberty and
vigilance, rooster for perseverance and courage, dolphin for
swiftness, charity, diligence and love, dragon as valiant
defender, fish means generous, true and virtuous mind, ram
indicates authority and serpent for wisdom. Imaginary animal
like unicorn is also used. It depicts extreme courage and
virtue.

Besides animals, nature finds its way in coats of arms in
the form of plants. All of these plants represent one or the
other virtue. Shamrock stands for perpetuity and harvest of
hope is depicted by sheaf of wheat. Rose indicates hope,
joy, grace and beauty and is the most commonly used plant.
Laurel leaves are used to signify victory and lily for
purity.

The oak tree is a symbol of antiquity, strength, continuous
growth and fertility. The leaves and nuts of the oak tree
also indicate different things. The acorn represents
strength and antiquity.

Weapons and armor. In addition to colors, plants, and
animals, coats of arms also include weapons and armor.
Hands or arms clad in arm indicate leadership. The helmet
indicates strength and invulnerability, as well as wisdom.
The axe indicates military duty and the arrow is a symbol of
battle-readiness. A hammer is the symbol of honor. The
dagger indicates justice and the shacklebolt is an
indicator of victory. The spear and the pike both represent
an honorable warrior or valiant knight.